{"id":2432,"date":"2017-02-08T16:51:08","date_gmt":"2017-02-08T16:51:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/?p=2432"},"modified":"2017-10-02T19:54:39","modified_gmt":"2017-10-02T19:54:39","slug":"7-helpful-tips-to-make-an-actor-website-wow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/7-helpful-tips-to-make-an-actor-website-wow\/","title":{"rendered":"What Makes an Actor Website WOW?"},"content":{"rendered":"

7 Helpful Tips to Make an Actor Website WOW!<\/h3>\n

Written by\u00a0Leryn Turlington<\/p>\n

February 8, 2017<\/p>\n<\/font> \"\"<\/a><\/span>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

When I sat down to make my first actor website, I did some serious hunting and scouring of the internet for articles of do<\/em>\u2019s and don\u2019t<\/em>\u2019s and what works and what doesn\u2019t. I even checked out the websites of friends or actors that I admire to see what was out there. I\u2019m here to pass on my discoveries to you, complete with examples! Here are the 7 things I learned and how I implemented in my own website. <\/span><\/p>\n

1. Cut to the chase!<\/h4>\n
\"\"<\/span><\/div>

Your headshot and resume is your passport to the world of theatre, so it is important to make them big, easy to find and downloadable. The very first tab on my websites opens to a page with a \u201cScribd\u201d app that hosts a downloadable PDF file of my headshot and resume. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

2.\u00a0What are you up to?<\/h4>\n
\"\"<\/span><\/div>

When you keep your website up to date, all the right people can keep tabs on what you\u2019re up to and where they can find you. Make sure to put a link to ticket sales and any (brief) promotional material of productions you\u2019re in so friends, family and others can get all the information they need. Here I have a trailer, running dates and ticket information. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

3.\u00a0May I have your attention?<\/h4>\n
\"\"<\/span><\/div>

Perhaps the most exciting thing about a website is having a place for your headshots, production photos, film reels, theatrical reels, and performances. Be very selective and brief with your media – assume your audience is only going to glance at the first 20 seconds of the first two selections. What would you most like them to see?<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

4.\u00a0Your feedback is very important to us!<\/h4>\n
\"\"<\/span><\/div>

Contact information is very important. Make sure you have a separate email for professional-related correspondences or a contact sheet like this! Remember: <\/span>never<\/span><\/i> put any personal information online like where you live or who you live with. Also, if you have an agent, be sure to feature them and their contact information on this page as well. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

5.\u00a0Be YOU!<\/h4>\n
\"\"<\/span><\/div>

A brief \u201cAbout Me\u201d section is an opportunity for your website visitor to make more of a connection with you from the other side of the screen. Are you a yogi? Are you an active member of your community? Do you have your own styling business? As actors we are always striving to stand out in the crowd, and this is <\/span>your<\/span><\/i> website, after all! There is also a debate on many \u201cTips for Actor Websites!\u201d articles over whether writing in third person works or not. I\u2019ve come to decide that I think this is a personal decision. (See what I did there?) I personally believe when you strive to make a website that is clean and polished, a first person narrative feels a bit informal and incongruent. But again, there are more important things to worry about!<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

6.\u00a0Coder or DIY?<\/h4>\n
\"\"<\/span><\/div>

I felt confident in my ability to create a modern, stylish and user-friendly website but it would be wise to mention that I also had the <\/span>time<\/span><\/i> and none of the <\/span>budget<\/span><\/i> for hiring someone else. If hiring a web developer is within your means, go for it! The plus side to making my own is that I have full control over my page and how it gets updated (which is frequently!). I found Weebly\u2019s interface extremely easy to manage and I pay about $30\/year to have my domain name, LerynTurlington.com<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/span>. It feels very fancy to have a domain and I\u2019m quite fond of it. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

7.\u00a0Bonus: Press<\/h4>\n
\"\"<\/span><\/div>

This section may not be relevant unless you have praise from critics, but if or when you do, leave a little space for the press! Good reviews and honorable mentions can help paint a picture of you as a performer for those who didn\u2019t get to see your previous work. Remember to always credit the source! <\/span><\/p>\n
\r\n

Need some advice? We\u2019ve got you covered.<\/h3>\n